My Old Kentucky Blog 2008 Holiday Interview Series : Samuel Bing of Fol Chen

Highland Park, California's Fol Chen was one of the many talents Asthmatic Kitty Records signed on in 2008. The band will release their debut album, Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made, on February 3rd, 2009 through the label.

If you wanna know more about Fol Chen, maybe it's best to just hear it from the horse's mouth...

"You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin's "Presence" album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don't sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children's religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance."

Fol Chen - The Believers
Fol Chen - The Believers (Clifford Lidell Remix)



Previous:

Fol Chen - Cable TV


MOKB : Any special musical plans for the Holiday Season? Any specials
songs or releases?

Samuel Bing : Staying put in the Highland Park Compound. Awaiting further instruction from Donna Donna and the Ghosts of WLIR Past. Decoding.

MOKB : The band contributed to a Winter Holiday Compilation curated by Confessions Of A Would Be Hipster called Plastic Snow. 100% of the profits from Plastic Snow go to benefit Los Angeles' longest running homeless shelter, Midnight Mission.

Read the rest of the interview AFTER THE JUMP...

MOKB : What have you been working on lately?

Samuel Bing : Constructing the FC Pyramid (see illustration) for use as studio, transmission tower, retreat and command center for rejuvenation and deployment of ear collusion for the toppling of the beauty hierarchy.

MOKB : What was your favorite album or musician of 2008?

Samuel Bing : Deep space recordings, jungle rumblings, underpass song swapping, Grammy parking garage attendant freestyling.

MOKB : What's the plan for 2009? What secret knowledge can you divulge?

Samuel Bing : We actually can't divulge any secret knowledge, all knowledge is public domain. See above re: FC Pyramid.

MOKB : What is your most and least favorite things about the Holiday Season?

Most: Marshmallow Peeps and Cadbury Creme Eggs. Least: neighborhood
kids shooting off fireworks all day and night.

MOKB : What are your favorite holiday foods?

Samuel Bing : Cookies, but they are good for all the time.

MOKB : Any special holiday traditions?

Samuel Bing : Gathering at our suite at the Desert Hot Springs Hotel Spa and listening to a nearly worn-out cassette of the beloved 1986 Malibu Sue holiday interview with Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys.

MOKB : If you could collaborate with one artist this Christmas season, who would it be and why?

Samuel Bing : If all goes well with the FC Pyramid (see above), Christmas 2009 will see the release of a Fol Chen/Jacques Brel/Janet Jackson Holiday Album. (Yes, the Pyramid will be that powerful.)

MOKB : Favorite holiday movie? song?

Movie: Bad Santa; Song: Tie between "What Child Is This?" by the Vince
Guaraldi Trio and "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses.

MOKB : Santa or Satan? St. Nicholas or St. Paulie Girl? Kris Kringle or Kris Kristofferson?

Samuel Bing : In the spirit of the holidays, we say invite all of them.

Previous: John McCauley of Deer Tick, Lord Phallus (Rob Crow) of Goblin Cock, Jon Visger of Mason Proper, Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls, David Adamson of Grampall Jookabox, Casey Dienel of White Hinterland, Rafter Roberts of Rafter, Will Johnson of Centro-Matic, Jof Owen of The Boy Least Likely To, Milo Bonacci of Ra Ra Riot, Aziz Ansari of Human Giant, Nick Thorburn & Jim Gutrie of Human Highway, Vito Aiuto of The Welcome Wagon, Ariel Pink of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Alejandra Deheza of School of Seven Bells, Matthew Gerken, Christian Kiefer and Jefferson Pitcher, Eric Bachmann of Crooked Fingers, Samuel Bing of Fol Chen

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